Asian Games 2018: PV Sindhu in gold hunt

Saina settles for bronze but Sindhu has a chance to turn things around against her conqueror Tai Tzuying in the final today

Win one, lose one. That was Indian badminton's story of the day. The two ladies of the sport - Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu - have won everything. Well, almost. They've given India the firsts it always craved - be it the Olympics or the All England.

Ever since the emergence of Saina as a world-beater and her 2012 Olympic bronze in London, the sport has seen an upward movement. The star-studded shuttling community delivers result almost every month, in this Open or that Open.

Hima Das, Anas claim silver in 400m events while Duttee does the same in women’s 100m

The Asian Games, however, had been an unconquered territory. After Syed Modi's 1982 bronze, no Indian had won an individual a medal, not even the contemporary set. They did win the team bronze a number of times, but that was the best India had.

Monday began with Saina's 21-17, 21-14 defeat to World No. 1 Tai Tzuying of Chinese Taipei. It only meant Saina became the second Indian shuttler to win an individual bronze in 36 years and the first Indian woman to win an individual medal at the Games.

An hour later, Sindhu walked in to play her singles semis against Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. It was a see-saw battle that ended with Sindhu's 21-17, 15-21, 21-10 win.

"I'd want to win the gold," Sindhu said, but had already registered herself to better the bronze of 1982. "It's not going to be an easy match. I hope I do well. You just have to give your best and depending on the match situation, keep changing the strategy," she added.

Saina rated Sindhu-Tzu-ying encounter as even. "I would say 50-50. Because Sindhu has options that I don't, as she is a taller player than I am," Saina reasoned.

The giant

Only Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon among world's top 10 players has a better head-to-head record against the Chinese Taipei player. Saina said she is not the World No. 1 player for nothing. "She is the World No 1... there is nothing else to say," Saina said, adding, "She's the best on circuit, but not unbeatable. It's not impossible. You have to have a complete game to beat her. She has those deceptive shots which bring her out of those complex situations."

Saina's experience yesterday may come handy for Sindhu in the final. "She (Tzu-ying) tries to be very quick in the last few points, so you have to be even quicker. She is someone who has got smooth and quick movements and she tries to execute in the very last shots.

"So, you have to be very alert. I tried to do that. But as I said, she is someone who has got all the shots. Even if you tend to put her in difficult situations, she tends to come out of it and get the point as well. I would say she was playing really, really well," that's how Saina viewed her Taipei opponent.

What Sindhu has in store?

She (Tzu-ying) has return N different replies for one shot - a lob, a flat shot, into the deep - that are confusing. With a half-laugh, Saina said, "Even her stupid shot might catch you cold."

As for Sindhu, she would have loved an all-India final. "Unfortunately, Saina lost," she said.

Sidhu may have won the match in three games, but compared to Saina's two-match defeat to Tzu-ying, it was a comfortable match.

Recent Messages ()

Please rate before posting your Review

OR PROCEED WITHOUT REGISTRATION

Share on Twitter

SIGN IN WITH

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.